Die casting apparatus



Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER 3,

DIE CASTING APPARATUS Filed bot. 9, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. #6797147, 17.64712"? Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER 3, 3,

DIE CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. #6772147? )f. 64127167.

Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER DIE CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1964 r mm m W m M I M am y/ Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER 3,333,523

DIE CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER DIE CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9. 1964 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER 3,333,628

DIE CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

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Aug. 1, 1967 H. M. CANNER DIE CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1964' 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 ax/vr/s'.

INVENTOR. #0777747? M 647171: r.

1957 H. M. CANNER 3,333,628

DIE! CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 iii J3 y Q j I 2; JJ/ Q i U sa T 70 FL:- i

mvmon. L. 3:; H6777??? Mddfififf United States Patent O 3,333,628 DIE CASTING APPARATUS Herman M. Canner, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Sterling Detroit Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,843 6 Claims. (Cl. 164-269) This invention relates to die casting apparatus or the like and, more particularly, to automatic transfer mechanism, associated with a die casting machine or the like, for transferring a casting from the die casting machine to subsequent work stations whereat operations such as quenching, trimming, and stripping may be performed.

The general concept of providing conveyor means for moving a casting from a die casting machine is shown, for example, in US. Patent 3,118,196.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved die casting conveyor apparatus which is cheaper to manufacture and more reliable in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved operational relationship between die casting machinery and associated conveyor apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved conveyor apparatus for use with die casting machinery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved means of removing a casting from die cavities requiring a minimum amount of relative movement between conventional ejection means and the dies with which they are associated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved quenching means for quenching a die casting while supported on conveyor means.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved trimming means for trimming a casting while associated with conveyor apparatus.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide new and improved stripping means for separating die cast material from die casting conveyor means with which it is associated.

Other objects and the advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates by reference to the following detailed description of the inventive concepts which are illustratively shown on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1-is a perspective view of die casting apparatus embodying the inventive principles;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 32;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken through the part holding means in FIGURE 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational 'view of the quenchmg apparatus;

FIG. 7 is another side elevational view of the quenching apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the trimming apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the stripping apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a partial side elevational view of a portion of the stripping apparatus shown in FIG. 10 in another position;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of the stripping apparatus shown in FIG. 10;

3,333,628 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 FIG. 13 is a partial side elevational view of support means for the conveyor apparatus;

FIG. 14 is another side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional View of an alternative embodiment of the conveyor support beam and support means therefor;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the support beam shown in FIG. 15 and support means therefor; and

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the inventive principles are embodied in apparatus associated with a conventional die casting machine 20 having relatively movable platen means including a fixed platen 22 and a movable platen 24 movably supported on parallel strain bars 26, 27, 28, 29 (sometimes also referred to as tie bars). Dies 30, 32 are supported on the platen 22, 24 and are relatively movable between open and closed positions. Suitable conventional ejection mechanism, shown in FIG. 4, is associated with the dies 30, 32 to disengage the casting from the die cavities 33 after the casting operation and may, for example, take the form of pin means 35 attached to a movable ejector plate 37 and slidably mounted relative to the die cavity for movement thereinto during opening of the dies. In addition, a secondary ejection may be effected by use of unit die holders as disclosed in my United States Patent No. 3,134,142. It will be understood that the dies, die cavity, ejection pins, and ejection mechanism have been illustrated only schemmatically since they are of conventional design as will be well understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

In the past, the ejection pin means have had to be relatively long and have been subjected to bending forces in use resulting in distortion, excessive wear, and sometimes breakage. Furthermore, the amount of relative movement required has been directly related to the amount of movement necessary to eject the casting from the die cavity as well as the amount of movement necessary to obtain clearance between the dies for removal of the casting. One of the advantages of the present invention is the provision of additional ejection means for removing a casting from the dies, hereinafter described in detail, which requires minimal ejection pin travel suflicient only to just loosen the casting in the die cavity and a minimal amount of relative movement of the platen 24. It will be understood that the details of operation of the die casting machine 20 are conventional and that the die casting machine is provided with conventional controls. It is also to be understood that certain of the inventive principles are not limited to use with die casting apparatus and may be equally well applicable to other apparatus such as, for example, injection molding apparatus.

Casting conveyor apparatus is associated with the die casting machine and comprises a plate 34 fixedly mounted on the platen 24 and fixedly supporting elongated beam means 36. Spaced parallelly mounted continuous chain means 38, 39 are movably supported in a triangular pattern on three sets of sprocket elements which are suitably rotatably mounted on the plate '34 and the beam 36.

A number of equally spaced casting carrying means 40 extend between the chains 38, 39 and are fixedly carried thereby. Only a portion of the total number of casting carrying means are illustrated, and it is to be understood that identical carrying means are equally spaced along the entire length of the chains. The chains are moved in indexing fashion and the casting carrying means 40 may be spaced from one another a distance equal to the length of indexing movement desired. The length of the chains is necessarily some multiple of the length of indexing movement.

The casting carrying means includes a depending part holding element 42 to which the casting, such as a part 43, for example, is joined during the die casting operation. As shown in FIG. 4, a gate 7 enlarged cavity 46 which surrounds the lower portion of the element 42in the closed position of the dies. Thus,

during the casting operation, a hanger for the part is formed which comprises an elongated portion formed in the gate 45 and an enlarged flanged end portion formed in the cavity 46.

Subsequent to the die casting operation, it is often desirable and necessary to perform operations such as, for example, quenching and trimming. Quenching apparatus 48 and trimming apparatus 50 are provided along the line of travel of the conveyor at equally'spaced intervals and, in addition, stripping apparatus 52 is provided to subsequently remove the part hanger from the element 40.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the plate 34 may be seen to comprise an L-shaped member which straddles the upper strain bars 26, 27 of the die casting machine by the provision of suitable cutouts 60, 62 and is fixedly connected to the movable platen by suitable fastening means such as bolts. Beam 36 is fixedly mounted on the plate by suitable bracket means 64, 66 and extends outwardly in cantilever fashion transversely to the path of movement of the die casting apparatus and parallelly to the path of movement of the chains. The beam 36 is shown to be hollow and have a polygonal cross-sectional configuration which, in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-14, is a quadrilateral having one side surface mounted parallel to the adjacent side surface of plate 34.

'However, it has been discovered that particularly advantageous results can be obtained by turning the beam 36 about its longitudinal axis, as shownin FIGS, 15-17, so that a diagonal line 68 of the beam cross section extends perpendicularly to the adjacent surface of the plate. V shaped bracket means 69 may be utilized to connect the beam of the plate. In this manner, the size and weight of the beam may be substantially reduced without reducing the desired degree of stiffness of the beam. Consequently, the load carried by the strain bars is substantially reduced. If desired or necessary, the end of the beam may be supported by roller means 70, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, attached to a support .plate 71 mounted by V-shapedbracket means-72, 73 on the beam and rollably supported on one or more of the strain bars of 'the trimrhing die apparatus hereinafter described in detail. It may be noted that the preferred embodiment of the beam, shown in FIGS. 15l7, provides particular advantageous mounting means in the form of V-shape brackets which do not require the use of fastening holes in the beam and which are easily adjusted longitudinally.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, plate 34 also supports the conveyor indexing mechanism which comprises an electric motor 74 which drives conventional indexing mechanism 76 by means of belt and pulley arrangement 78. An output gear 80, driven by the indexing mecha-' nism, drives a pinion 82 fixedly mounted on the end of a a shaft 83 journaled in a sleeve 84 and supported by hub means 85 attached to the lower end of plate 34. Drive sprockets 86, '88 are fixedly mounted on the'other end of shaft. 83. The pitch diameter of the drive sprocket is equal to the indexing distance so that only one revolution of the drive shaft is required for each indexing movement; In this manner, the possibility of accumulative error accruing in the indexing movement is minimized. Spaced sprockets 90, 92 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 93 fixedly supported by a suitable bracket and hub arrange- 1 mem-94 attached to the upper end of plate'34. Another pair of idler sprockets 95, 96 are rotatably mounted at the end of the beam 36, as shown in FIG. 1, on a shaft 97;

Thus, the conveyor chains travel in a substantiallytr angular path. It will be understood that the conveyor chains are not tightly mounted on the supporting sprocket 7 wheels and that a substantial amount of play is'provided 45 extends to an so that the length of chain between sprockets will have a slightly slack condition. Sprockets 90, 92,' for example, may be adjustably supported by guides 98, 99 and an adjustment means 100 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 2, to permit the chain tension to be varied as necessary or desirable.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, part holding elements 42 are shown to comprise an elongated depending cylindical portion 102 which terminates in a shoulder 104. A cylindrical portion 106 of reduced diameter relative to the cylindrical portion 102 terminates in a tapered conical portion 108 having a rounded nose. The upper end of the cylindrical portion 102 is fixedly connected to a slide plate arrangement, shown in FIG. 5, comprising a flanged bar 110 and a plate 112 which define a groove 114 receiving rib portions 115, 116 formed along a centrally located slot in a plate 117. Thus, the part holding element 42 is slidably supported on the plate 117 for sliding movement relative thereto to provide additional ejection means as hereinafter described in detail.

The plate 117 is connected to the chains 38, 39 by suitable hub members 118, 119. Pen elements 120, 121 extend axially outwardly beyond the chains and are adapted to be received in support and guide channel means 122, 123 formed in brackets 124, 125, The element 42 is slidably mounted between spaced abutments 126, 127 on the plate 117 and is adapted to be displaced therebetween by means of a depending flange 128 on a plate 129. Keeper means are provided to positively locate the part carrying means assembly 40in the casting position and include a groove 130 in one end of the plate and correspondingly configured keeper plate 131. The front side surface of the plate 131 may beslightly tapered so as to assist in locating the lowermost portion within the groove as the chains are indexed.

The position of the chains and the carrying means 40 is positively maintained in the casting position by means. of brackets and plates 132, 133, 134, 136 which are fixedly supported by the beam 36. Dies 30, 32 close around the part holding elements 42 which are slidably supported by the plate 117. In the closed die position, the element 42 has a position in the dies as shown in FIG. 4. As the dies open, the element 42 is carried with the die 32 since both the die and the element are mounted on the platen 24. Dur ing a relatively small terminal portion of the opening movement of the dies, the conventional ejection means 35 loosen the casting by causing relative movement between the casting and the diewhich is accommodated by sliding movement of the part holding element 42 along the plate 117. Contrary to prior art practices, the aforedescribed movement of the ejection means 35 is relatively short. The casting is cleared from the die cavity by subsequent additional sliding movement of the element 42 relative to the plate 117 positively induced by extension of the flange abutment 128. A power cylinder 138 is fixedly mounted on the bottom of plate 134 as by welding and the piston rod 141 is connected to plate 129 at 142. Control switches 143, 144 having actuating arms 145, 146,a re also mounted on the plate 134. A control rod 148 having actuating lugs 150, 15 1 fixedly mounted thereon for operational engagement with the actuating arms 145, 146 is reciprocably supported by plate 130. The end of the control rod148 is connected to plate 129. It may be noted that the keeper plate 131 isfixedly mounted on the front end of the cyl inder 138 while the control rod 148 is slidably supported therein and extends therethrough for fixed association with the plate 129. I I Thus, when the piston rod of the cylinderis extended;

flange 128 engages the plate 112 and slides the element 42 along plate 117 toward abutment'127. The control rod 148 is pulled along and, at the end of the stroke, lug 150 engages the operating arm to actuate switch 143 'causing the index unit to operate. Operation of the power 'cylinder 138 is initiated by a limit switch associated with the ejection mechanism in the dies of the die casting machine.- 7

After the shot has been placed in the die cavities, the dies open and the primary ejection mechanism is effective to loosen the casting in the dies. If the unit die holders are used, secondary ejection is obtained to loosen the ejection pins on the casting. Then the limit switch associated with the ejection mechanism in the dies is operated to cause actuation of the power cylinder 138 effecting trinary ejection which results in further displacement of the part holding element 42, and the casting which is attached thereto, from within the die cavity to a position completely disassociated from the casting dies. Consequently, there will be no interference between the part and the dies upon subsequent indexing movement of the conveyor which occurs after the platen 24 has reached its fully open position and the part holding element 42 has been extended in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the platen 24. Cylinder 138 may be advantageously actuated before the opening movement of the platens is completed to reduce the cycle time.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 6, and 7, the quenching station apparatus is shown to comprise a quenching tank 160 mounted on a movable platform 161 reciprocably supported on vertically extending beams 162, 163 by means of rollers 164, 165, 166, 167 mounted in track forming channels in the beams. The rollers are attached to a carriage 170 formed by vertically extending plates 171, 172 and cross plates 173, 174 which support the platform 161. As shown in FIG. 6, the tank is adapted to be moved between a lowered position, shown in phantom, and an elevated position whereat the casting is immersed in a liquid carried in the tank. Lifting apparatus is provided which produces a harmonic movement to avoid splashing the liquid in the tank during initial movement and terminal movement. Links 176, 178 are pivoted at one end on a rod 179 attached to the cross bar 173 and are pivotally connected at the other end by pins 180, 181 to shorter drive links 182, 184 movable along the arcuate path 185 shown in FIG. 6 between an upper position corresponding to the elevated position of the platform and a lower position corresponding to the lowered position of the platform. The drive links are driven by an operator shaft 186 suitably connected to the piston rod 187 of a power cylinder 188 by means of rack and gear means 189 or the like.-

The power cylinder 188 may be suitably suspended on a cross plate 190 and vertically extending support pillars 191, 192. Counterweights 194, 196 are suspended by chain members 197, 198 wound over the idler sprocket assemblies 199, 200 at the top of the beams and connected at their other ends to the elevator platform at 201, 202.

It may be observed that, when the power cylinder 188 is actuated to extend the piston rod 187 and cause the pivot points 180, 181 to travel in the circular arc 185, the central portion of the motion is substantially vertical whereas the end portions of the motion are substantially horizontal so that a harmonic motion is imparted to the elevator mechanism. The elevator travels at a maximum speed centrally between the upper and lower positions and approaches and leaves the upper and lower positions with gradually reduced speed so as to avoid splashing. The tank 160 is of course aligned with the conveyor mechanism and positioned at an indexing station so that in the lifted position of the tank a casting carried by an element 42 will be fully immersed in the quenching liquid. The elevator mechanism may be mounted on a movable dolley 204 supported on tracks 205, 206. Control switches 208, 209 may be mounted on one of the support pillars 162, 163 for actuation in the raised and lowered positions by control lug means 210 carried by the elevator.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 8, the trimming apparatus is shown to comprise a fixed platen 214 and a movable platen 216 on which suitable trimming dies 217, 218 are mounted by means of T slots 219, 220 or the like. Four rectangularly spaced strain bars 222, 223, 224, 225 slidably support the movable platen 216 for movement from between a retracted die opening position and an extended die closing position. The conveyor chains 38, 39 are located between the platens 214, 216 so that the part holding means 40 and the carrying elements 42 are brought into trimming position between the trim dies 217, 218 beneath the upper strain bars 222, 223. In the closed position, as shown in FIG. 8, the trimming dies are fully closed around the element 42. As shown in FIG. 1, the parts 43 are trimmed and separated from the hanger and casting offal at the trimming station 50. It may be noted that the closed die position of the trimming apparatus corresponds to the closed die position of the casting apparatus. Also, since the conveyor chains move with the movable platen 24, the trimming dies and the casting dies and their opening and closing movements must be suitably correlated and aligned.

Relatively high operating pressures are utilized in the trimming operation, and it is essential that the trimming die cavities and the casting be properly aligned to prevent damage when the dies are closed. The operating mechanism for the movable die 216 is specially constructed and adapted to replace conventional hydraulic systems which heretofore have been relatively complicated and which, in the past, have often required the attention of specially qualified hydraulic technicians for service in operation. A relatively short stroke operating cylinder 228 (e.g., a Miller series H, 8" bore, 3" stroke, model No. 61) is mounted on a movable cylinder supporting platen 230, slidably supported by the strain bars 222, 223, 224, 225, and includes a piston rod 232 fixedly connected to the movable die platen 216 as at 233. Platen 230 is slidable between the extended position shown in FIG. 8 and a retgacted position shown in phantom in FIG. 8 at 234, 23

In order to positively locate the movable platens 216, 230 in the extended position, special linkage means are provided for connection to an operating cylinder 236. A control switch 238 for cylinder 228 is actuated by the linkage only when the platens have reached the exact desired extended location. A link 240 is pivotally connected at 242 to the platen 230 and a control link 243 is pivoted at one end of the link at 244. The other end of the control link is connected to a rotatable shaft 246 for swinging movement about an are 245 between the extended position shown and the retracted position shown in phantom at 248. Control switch 238 is fixedly mounted by suitable support means 249 so that the switch operating arm 252 is located in the path of movement of the link 243 and operated thereby in the extended position. Consequently, it will be readily appreciated that the power cylinder 228 cannot be actuated until the fully extended position is reached.

A power cylinder 236, which may be similar to cylinder 228 but smaller in size (e.g. 2 /2" bore), is mounted in a vertical position and has its piston rod 255 connected to rack means 256 drivably engaged with gear means on the shaft 246 so that the link 243 is positively driven between the retracted and extended positions. Thus, the cylinder 228 effects a relatively long length displacement of the platens 216, 230, In this manner, the movable die platen 216 is initially positioned closely adjacent the trimming position against relatively small forces by the cylinder 236 and, when in an intermediate position closely adjacent the trimming position, the trimming operation is accomplished against relatively high forces through a relatively short stroke (e.g., approximately 1 inch or less) caused by actuation of the cylinder 228 upon actuation of the control switch 238. The intermediate position may be varied as necessary for any particular application by use of spacers and adjustment of the controls. The return control switch 258 is suitably mounted for engagement by actuating rod 259 when the movable platen 216 has been extended by the power cylinder 228 to the extent necessary to trim so that the length of the stroke is limited to only the amount necessary to perform the trimming operation. Thus, the cycle time is minimized. In addition,

suitable limit switch means, not shown, are provided to prevent actuation and indexing of the conveying apparatus until and unless the movable platen 216 is in the fully retracted position.

Referring now to FIGURES 10, l1, and 12, the stripping mechanism is shown to comprise part engaging means in the form of bifurcated arm means 262 adapted to closely surround the shank of the part holding element 42. Arm 262 is pivoted at 263 for movement between a retracted upwardly extending position shown in FIG. 11 and an extended downwardly displaced position shown in FIG. 10. During movement of the arm from the upwardly retracted position to the downwardly extended position, the hanger abutment formed 'by the enlarged chamber 46 at the end of the gate 45 is engaged and the part hanger formed in the gate during the casting operation is stripped from the part holding element 42. Spring means 264, 265 bias the forked arm toward the retracted position. It is contemplated that the arm means 262 and spring means 264, 265 may be replaced by camming means which directly engage the hanger abutment.

The operating mechanism for the arm comprises slide block means 266 slidably supporting cam plate means 268. Cammed end portion 270 of the cam plate is adapted to engage the inclined rear surface of the arm and force the arm downwardly around the pivot point 263. Lost motion means are provided between the slide block and cam plate by means of a slot 271 and pin 272. The slot and pin arrangement provides lost motion means by which the cam plate is movable relative to the slide block at the end of the stroke of piston rod 274 of a power cylinder 275. Slidable block means 266 is freely mounted on strain bars 276, 277, FIG. 12. Force is transferred to the slide block means from the power cylinder during extending movement by compression spring means 278 through a spring abutment plate 279 fixed to the cam plate. Stop means 280 limit outward displacement of the slide block. The spring means 278 is compressed as the cam plate moves further outwardly relative to the slide block after the slide block engages the stop means. The additional outward movement of the cam plate is accommodated by the lost motion slot 271 and pin 272. The cylinder and the operating mechanism are fixedly connected to the beam 36 by suitable brackets and plate means 281. Sprockets 95, 96 may also be suitably rotatably supported on the beam by a shaft 282 mounted in a hub 283.

In operation, the cylinder 275 is actuated at the end of an indexing movement of the conveyor by suitable controls and the rod 274, the slide block 266, and the cam plate 268, are moved outwardly as a unit with transfer of force from the cam plate to the slide block through the spring means 278. When the slide block 266 engages stop 28%) before completion of the extension of the piston rod 274, cam plate 268 moves relative to the slide block and the cam portion 270 engages the inclined surface on the back of the forked arm causing the forked arm to rotate downwardly and strip the cast hanger from the part holding element.

It may be noted that the upper surface of the slide block means is slidably received beneath the plate 117 of the carrying means 40 and forms a rigid support therefor during the stripping operation. Furthermore, the part carrying element 42 will be positively located at one end of the plate 117 during the stripping operation.

The stripping apparatus is retracted by reverse movement of the cam plate 268 which causes the pin 272 to engage the end of slot 271 and pull the slide block to the retracted position. Suitable limit switches are provided to reversely operate the cylinder at the end of the extension stroke and completely clear the stripping apparatus from beneath the conveyor mechanism to the positions indicated in phantom at 286, 288 to permit the next indexing movement of the conveyor. Additional control switches are provided to prevent indexing movement unless the stripping apparatus is in the retracted position and to prevent extension of the stripping apparatus until an indexing movement has been completed. It may be pointed out at this point, that similar control switches are provided for all the apparatus atyall work stations so that the conveyor can never be indexed unless all stations are in an indexing position with all apparatus clear of the conveyor.

The conveyor chains may be supported as needed or desired by suitable bracket devices mounted onthe beam 36. In FIGS. 13, 14, for example, bracket means 290 support a U-shaped plate 293 having spaced depending arm portions 294, 295 on which angle plates 296, 297 may be fixedly secured. Roller portions of the conveyor chains are adapted to be movably supported on the top surfaces of the angle members which extend a substantial longitudinal distance and may have curved approach surfaces 298 facilitating association of the chain rollers with the top surface of the angle bars. In FIGS. 16, 17, bracket means 299 support channel elements 300, 301.

While some of the details of the illustrative embodiments of the invention hereinbefore disclosed are adapted to provide particularly useful and advantageous results, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that many of the inventive principles and concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed. Consequently, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to cover the inventive principles and concepts as broadly as permitted by the prior knowledge of the art.

What is claimed is:

1. For die casting machinery of the type comprising a longitudinally movable carrier mount, having a depending peg type carrier, with support means for supporting the mount and holding it against vertical movement and for moving it and its carrier horizontally and longitudinally:

stripping apparatus under the path of longitudinal movement of said mount for removing a casting from said carrier comprising transversely and horizontally extendable and retractable casting engaging means, said casting engaging means being engageable with a casting on the carrier when in an extended position and being downwardly movable when in such extended position to strip the casting from the carrier;

said casting engaging means being located below and transversely of the path of longitudinal movement of said carrier when in the retracted position;

and a power cylinder operatively connected to said stripping means to move said casting engaging means transversely between the extended position and the retracted position;

said carrier comprising a peg, and said casting engaging means comprising a fork adapted to straddle said peg carrier and being movably downwardly along said peg carrier into engagement with said casting and causing disengaging movement of said casting from said carrier;

said stripping apparatus including a wedge engageable with said fork for wedging movement and to cause movement of the fork downwardly along said carrier, said wedge being operatively connected to said power cylinder, a slide block slidably supporting said wedge and pivotally supporting the said fork, and lost motion connecting means connecting said slide block to said power cylinder, whereby said slide block is movable from a retracted position to an extended position whereat said fork is located to straddle said carrier and said wedge is thereafter movable relative to said slide block to displace said fork downwardly for stripping;

said slide block being under and bearing against said mount 50 that said mount and said support means absorb the reaction from stripping action.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said lost motion connecting means comprises an abutment fixed to said wedge, a compression spring between said abutment and said slide block to transfer force from said wedge to said slide block during extension of said fork, and pin and slot means connecting said wedge to said slide block during retraction of said wedge.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and wherein said slide block includes an abutment adapted to engage and hold said carrier mount during movement of said fork to prevent downward displacement of said carrier.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fork is pivotally mounted on an end of the housing with a portion of the fork located in the path of the wedge so that the wedge tilts the fork in its stripping action.

5. For a die casting machine of the type comprising a longitudinally movable carrier mount having a depending peg type carrier, with support means for su porting the mount and holding it against vertical movement, and for moving it and its carrier horizontally and longitudinally;

stripping apparatus under the path of longitudinal movement of said mount for stripping a casting off the lower or free end of the carrier and comprising a horizontally and transversely slidably mounted stripper housing under said mount and bearing against it so that the reaction from stripping action is absorbed, through the carrier and its mount, by the support means;

said housing having a fork movably mounted therein and formed for straddling the carrier when said fork is positioned between the casting and the mount;

a wedge slidably mounted in said housing for wed-ging the fork downwardly away from the mount to strip a casting oh the carrier;

and power means for moving the housing and wedge together transversely and horizontally to locate the fork to straddle the carrier and then for moving the wedge transversely and horizontally separately of the housing, to cause the fork to move downwardly to strip the casting off the carrier.

6. A stripper according to claim 5 having a single power means for both the housing and the wedge, with lost motion provided between the wedge and the housing; and a compression spring for providing resistance to movement of the wedge separately of the housing so that Wedge and housing can move together until the housing is properly located, after which the wedge moves separately with spring resistance provided by the spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,375,486 4/1945 Morin 22200 2,848,770 8/ 1958 Schuchardt 2268 3,118,196 1/1964 Hall et al. 22-67 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner. 

5. FOR A DIE CASTING MACHINE OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE CARRIER MOUNT HAVING A DEPENDING PEG TYPE CARRIER, WITH SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE MOUNT AND HOLDING IT AGAINST VERTICAL MOVEMENT, AND FOR MOVING IT AND ITS CARRIER HORIZONTALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY; STRIPPING APPARATUS UNDER THE PATH OF LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MOUNT FOR STRIPPING A CASTING OFF THE LOWER OR FREE END OF THE CARRIER AND COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY AND TRANSVERSELY SLIDABLY MOUNTED STRIPPER HOUSING UNDER SAID MOUNT AND BEARING AGAINST IT SO THAT THE REACTION FROM STRIPPING ACTION IS ABSORBED, THROUGH THE CARRIER AND ITS MOUNT, BY THE SUPPORT MEANS; SAID HOUSING HAVING A FORK MOVABLY MOUNTED THEREIN AND FORMED FOR STRADDLING THE CARRIER WHEN SAID FORK IS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE CASTING AND THE MOUNT; A WEDGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR WEDGING THE FORK DOWNWARDLY AWAY FROM THE MOUNT TO STRIP A CASTING OFF THE CARRIER; AND POWER MEANS FOR MOVING THE HOUSING AND WEDGE TOGETHER TRANSVERSELY AND HORIZONTALLY TO LOCATE THE FORK TO STRADDLE THE CARRIER AND THEN FOR MOVING THE 